I noticed that most of the Illinois Dems were fairly pragmatic about it--supportive almost. I think that in part, it is because we know Obama better. We also know how ugly it can get in politics when any candidate (GOP or Dem) goes off on a rant and then gets the snot beat out of them by the media for having done so. We have a LONG history of it here in Illinois.

Additionally, we saw first hand how high the bar is set for ANY candidate or office holder who is a person of color or is seen as being progressive. Look how Braun was treated for her transgressions (real or imagined.) I'd like to think we learned from that.

Face it, folks, for those of us living in Illinois, politics is a blood sport. It's not some tea party or an exercise in a poly sci class. As much as I want to see somebody take it to the shrub's regime in public, it just isn't worth it to me to see Obama go down in flames simply because he gave voice to the things we discuss here at DU.

We need to pick up seats in the Senate, and Obama is looking likely to do just that--barring a self created explosion. IMO, saying on national TV that bush was anything EXCEPT misguided on Iraq, probably would lead to an explosion that would kill Obama's chances to win.

Either the media would crucify him or else the DNC would be upset because he drifted off the main message. Either way--Obama is the one that gets hurt by going full tilt on bush. You know durn well it isn't gonna hurt shrub too much more than anything else out there currently.

Obama is a very smart man, and he's more than just a "smart campaigner." He demonstrated that for us all again today.

while we were enjoying our son`s girlfriend run a tri for ovarian cancer in naperville ,then going to their new place in oakpark, and then just enjoying a beautiful day in northern il. i find out that someone is doubting obama? dissing him? look the republicans are so afraid they can`t find anyone..try that in any other state kids...sure there are some good republicans in this state who could give it a good fight but they won`t even try...so just stuff it-

I just spent a week up there and never once thought to check with the evil DUers about who lives up there... (There may not be anyone on here from there exactly--it looked like a small town from what I saw of it.)

In October, I'm supposed to be in Fairview Hgts for another week (in yet another series of clsses) Maybe then I can meet some DUers from the SOuth end of the state...

Obama was one of the best at articulating what was wrong about the Iraq War and way ahead of many in our Party. Just as we had to accept the choice of Edwards, we have to accept this. It's understood that the anti-war people have no choice but Kerry and the undecideds now get catered to. Since defeating Bush is our goal we have to cede the war issue for now. It is understandable that people who are motivated by things like F911 and the whole Iraq war debacle find it hard to bite their tongue. We must realize that is why most of us could not survive the political arena.

9. Obama is pragmatic--I have heard him say 2 things that would piss off

the far left--one was about the term "War is not the answer" He said that sometimes war *is* the answer, in extreme cases, like during WWII. He didn't tow the pacifist line; he acknowledged that aggression is sometimes (rarely) necessary. He also answered a question about reparations for slavery that was not a crowd-pleaser for many black voters. He said that it would be impossible to get a sitting president to sign a legislated reparations for slavery, and that it diverted energies away from other strategies that were more effective for getting justice for African Americans.The guy was able to get things done with Illinois Republicans, and is well-liked in the statehouse. Now, he may have to change his strategies with these neocons in the Senate and become a little harder, but I'm more than willing to give him the chance!

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